UnknownComponent

Solo Project Unknown Component Releases Latest LP.

By Chris Taylor

9/30/08

Iowan one-man band indie rocker Keith Lynch, has just released his project Unknown Component’s seventh full-length album In Direct Communication. Recording and playing every instrument along with all of the vocal work on the record, Lynch cleverly constructs lyrical poetry about various facets of society and his interaction among them. Lynch’s raw vocals echo those of a young Bob Dylan with the emotion of the late Elliot Smith, allowing the listener to hear how personal and honest Lynch is throughout the record.

The music itself, also performed by Lynch, gives off a true do-it-yourself indie vibe, as he keeps the music feeling natural and powerful, avoiding the poppy sound of overprocessed guitars and keyboards.

Due to the humble sound of Lynch’s do-it-yourself style, the album sounds as if it’s being performed before your very eyes, no studio sweeteners or effects, a pure performance from start to finish. The album kicks off with the politically driven “Into The Sun,” with pounding guitars and Lynch questioning the state of society and war, with the hook, “I feel like nothing is changing, there’s just more aggravation.”

As the album progresses, Lynch unfolds more and more different styles in the songs as he brandishes clever apathetic witticisms throughout the tracks. The second track, “It’s a Fine Line,” comes in with the heavy pulse of a melodramatic drumline and snappy guitar chords panning from ear to ear as Lynch warns of the fine line he believes our culture is walking. The nostalgic “Retrospectively Speaking” sits with the listener like a classic Radiohead song, filled with driving bass lines and treble based guitar parts.. “Retrospectively Speaking” has a catchy chorus flowing with nostalgia as Lynch quotes “Remember you said you’d be ok, well that was ten years ago today, remember when you said you’d be all right, that was a decade ago tonight.”

The more sullen ballad, “Between Guilt and Relief” sounds heavily influenced by Robert Smith of The Cure, as Lynch emits lines such as ” sunshine, it brings me down all night” over a steady keyboard vamp and a well placed synthesizer.

A personal favorite of mine, the dreary “Somewhere A Light Has Gone Out” paints a dark ominous picture as minor arpeggios dance across a piano, and thunderous drums pound out in the background. Lynch’s “On Your Mind” is a straightforward rock song with piano, drums and guitar steadily pushing the song forward as he discusses moral dilemma. Another highlight track is “Identifying Interpretation”, starting out with powerful drums and a beautiful piano progression which transitions headfirst into a lively indie rock feel with active drums and surging bass as Lynch claims “time isn’t ours, its extinguishing the stars.”

Towards the end of the album comes the first track with a more positive spin on its melodies, despite its somber name and lyrical substance, “Brought Up To Be Put Down” definitely stands out among the other tracks on In Direct Communication.
Following “Brought Up To Be Put Down” comes another cheery song in comparison to the overall album, “Never Ceases To Remain Unchanged,” where major chords echo through the track and poppy drums guide the general feel to a more upbeat sound.

The album comes to a close full circle as it ends like it began, with the apathetic “The Inconsistent System”, sticking with a straightforward raw force through the song, until the end when everything but the guitar and vocals cut out as Lynch proclaims ” we will walk away, and we don’t hear the words they say” as the album draws to its close. So in conclusion, if you’re looking for a lyrically driven one-man army of pure indie force, Unknown Component’s In Direct Communication will be a pleasant treat. In an age where the one-man band is a dying breed, Keith Lynch’s Unknown Component is proof that there’s still hope in this genre.

Hopefully, with the popularization of In Direct Communication, Keith Lynch’s work will fan out across the States and beyond.

Songs are available for free download @ www.unknowncomponent.com